Senior Jake Dieffenbach has had success against the wrestlers he will face at the Big 12 Championship in Stillwater on Saturday. The Cowboys have won the title 33 times.
Oklahoma State’s wrestling team could not ask for a better location to wrestle for the Big 12 championship.
The Cowboys (16-3-1) will try for their 33rd all-time conference title inside the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday.
“I can’t wait for it to be here,” senior Coleman Scott said. “It hasn’t been here since I’ve been here. It will be a good feeling being in front of our own fans. Hopefully we give them a good show.”
The No. 5 Cowboys have given fans a show wherever the postseason tournament has been.
Oklahoma State has won eight out of a possible 11 Big 12 titles since the league was formed in 1996-97.
Cowboy wrestlers have won 49 individual Big 12 titles while wrestlers at the other four schools have won a combined 61.
This postseason will be special because it is just the second time Oklahoma State has hosted the Big 12 Championships. OSU hosted in 2001.
“I think when you’re at home if you get on a roll I think some magical things can happen,” coach John Smith said.
The Cowboys may need some home court magic because they enter the tournament as underdogs to defending champion No. 3 Iowa State and No. 4 Nebraska.
“We closed the gap in the Big 12,” Smith said.
“I’m excited because of what I see in my guys and the way they’re responding to our training and the attitude in the room. I’ve seen some things I really like. It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t execute on the mat.”
Oklahoma State boasts two clear-cut favorites in 133-pounder Coleman Scott and 141-pounder Nathan Morgan. Senior Jake Dieffenbach is 4-1 this year against the wrestlers he is slated to face in the Big 12 Championship at 165 pounds, and Brandon Mason, 174 pounds, and Jared Rosholt, heavyweight, are favored to earn titles.
“We need to wrestle like we know how to win and the title will take care of itself,” Scott said.
“I think we can definitely blow some people out of the water when we start wrestling well and they realize what big strides we’ve made the last couple of weeks.”
Thirty-eight berths into the NCAA Championship are at stake at the Big 12 Championship.
The top three finishers in each of the 10 weight classes earn automatic bids to the NCAA tournament and eight wildcard selections go.
The coaches meet to decide on the eight wildcard qualifiers.
“It’s probably the worst part of my job,” Smith said of the meeting. “Every time I leave I feel abused. Any coach can say that. It becomes personal in the wild card. You’re telling me my kid isn’t any good, that he hasn’t done anything. It’s just a fight.
“We’re not holding hands and sharing a meal together.”
Loading ...
All Articles
Good text!, brother